{{Short description|Scottish Labour Co-op politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]] | name = Claudia Beamish | honorific_suffix = | image = Claudia Beamish, 2016 Labour Party Conference.jpg | image_size = | caption = Beamish in 2016 | office = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]<br />for [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}} | term_start = 5 May 2011 | term_end = 5 May 2021 | office1 = Scottish Labour portfolios | suboffice1 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform]] | subterm1 = 2016–2021 | birth_name = Claudia Hamilton Beamish | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|8|9|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[London]], England | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Scottish Labour]] [[Labour and Co-operative|Co-operative]] | partner = Michael Derrington | father = [[Tufton Beamish, Baron Chelwood|Tufton Beamish]] | website = [http://www.claudiabeamish.com/ Official Website] }}

'''Claudia Hamilton Beamish''' (born 9 August 1952) is a [[Scottish Labour]] [[Labour and Co-operative|Co-operative]] politician who served as [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for the [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]] region from [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011]] to 2021.

==Early life== Claudia Hamilton Beamish is the daughter of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[life peer]] [[Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish, Baron Chelwood]] and his first wife Janet McMillan Stevenson.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Prior to entering politics, she worked as a primary school teacher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/48240399.html?dids=48240399:48240399&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+22%2C+2000&author=Murray+Ritchie+Scottish+Political+Editor&pub=The+Herald&desc=Labour+vetoes+left-winger%3B+Supporters+cry+foul+as+Alex+Smith%27s+bid+to+stand+as+party+candidate+in+Ayr+by-election+is+blocked&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131215545/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/48240399.html?dids=48240399:48240399&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+22,+2000&author=Murray+Ritchie+Scottish+Political+Editor&pub=The+Herald&desc=Labour+vetoes+left-winger;+Supporters+cry+foul+as+Alex+Smith's+bid+to+stand+as+party+candidate+in+Ayr+by-election+is+blocked&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2013 |title=Labour vetoes left-winger; Supporters cry foul as Alex Smith's bid to stand as party candidate in Ayr by-election is blocked |publisher=pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=22 January 2000 |accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/scottish-labour-party-elects-new-chair |title=Scottish Labour Party elects new Chair &#124; - The Scottish Labour Party |publisher=scottishlabour.org.uk |date=18 April 2009 |accessdate=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318131258/http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/scottish-labour-party-elects-new-chair |archive-date=18 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Political career== Beamish was placed at the top of Labour's list for the [[South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South of Scotland]] in the [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/daughter-of-ex-tory-mp-running-as-labour-candidate-1-867857 |title=Daughter of ex-Tory MP running as Labour candidate |work=The Scotsman |date=28 January 2003 |accessdate=9 October 2016}}</ref> and [[2007 Scottish Parliament election]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk/news/1.197363 |title=Chance for small parties |work=Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser |date=19 April 2007 |accessdate=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328033503/http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk/news/1.197363 |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Beamish was the [[Labour Co-operative]] candidate for [[Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale]] at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], finishing second with 13,263 votes (28.9%).<ref>{{cite news|title = BBC News - MPs unchanged in Dumfries and Galloway and Borders|url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/scotland/8665429.stm|work = BBC News|date = 7 May 2010|access-date = 23 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale general election 2010|url = https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/2781|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 23 August 2025}}</ref>

===Member of the Scottish Parliament=== Beamish was the Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee in the Scottish Parliament in the second half of 2011. Following the election of [[Johann Lamont]] as Labour leader, Beamish was appointed as Labour's Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/memberspages/claudia_beamish/index.htm|title=Current Members - Claudia Beamish|publisher=The Scottish Parliament|date=2014-11-19|accessdate=2016-09-07}}</ref> She served as a member of the Parliament's Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee during its scrutiny of the [[Land reform|Land Reform]] Bill 2015.<ref>[[Rob Gibson|Gibson, Rob]] (2020), ''Reclaiming Our Land'', Highland Heritage Educational Trust, p. 219, {{isbn|9781527281813}}</ref> She is a member of various Cross-Party Groups; Deputy Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Dyslexia;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/41821.aspx |title=Dyslexia - MSPS : Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2012-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510110312/http://scottish.parliament.uk/msps/41821.aspx |archivedate=10 May 2012}}</ref> Deputy Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Men's Violence Against Women and Children;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/46891.aspx |title=Men's Violence Against Women and Children - MSPS : Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2012-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511092742/http://scottish.parliament.uk/msps/46891.aspx |archivedate=11 May 2012}}</ref> and Co-convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Carers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/32323.aspx |title=Carers - MSPS : Scottish Parliament |accessdate=2012-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511034957/http://scottish.parliament.uk/msps/32323.aspx |archivedate=11 May 2012}}</ref>

At the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election]], Beamish ran in the [[Clydesdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Clydesdale constituency]], finishing in third place with 6,995 votes (20.7%).<ref>{{cite news|title = Scottish Parliament constituency - Election 2016|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/scotland-constituencies/S16000090|work = BBC News|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Scottish Parliament election 2016 constituency result: Clydesdale|url = https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-parliament-election-2016-constituency-result-clydesdale-1477314|work = The Scotsman|date = 6 May 2016|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref> Though not elected, she was returned on the regional list.<ref>{{cite news|title = South Scotland regional results - Election 2016 |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/scotland-regions/S17000015|work = BBC News|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|title = SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION - ELECTION OF REGIONAL MEMBERS OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT - SOUTH SCOTLAND REGION - 5 May 2016|url = https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/downloads/file/2012/south-of-scotland-2016-election-results-list|website = Scottish Borders Council|date = 6 May 2016|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref>

Beamish nominated [[Anas Sarwar]] in the [[2021 Scottish Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations|url=http://scottishlabour.org.uk/people/2021-leadership-election/nominations/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=Scottish Labour|language=en}}</ref>

Beamish stood again in Clydesdale at the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]], and was the fourth Labour candidate on the South Scotland list.<ref>{{cite web|title = South Scotland 2021 - Ballot box Scotland|url = https://ballotbox.scot/scottish-parliament/sp21/south/|website = Ballot Box Scotland|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref> She increased her previous share in the constituency, by 1.3% to 8,960 votes (22.0%), retaining third place.<ref>{{cite news|title = Clydesdale - Scottish Parliament constituency - BBC News|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/scotland/constituencies/S16000090|work = BBC News|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = 2021 Election Results|url = https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/2021-election-results|website = Scottish Parliament|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref> On the regional list, Labour elected three of their candidates, with Beamish being among the incumbent MSPs to lose their seat in that election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-09|title=Scottish Election: SNP squeezed as border region bucks trend|url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2021-05-09/scottish-election-snp-squeezed-as-border-region-bucks-trend|access-date=2021-10-04|website=ITV News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = SP21 – The Jaikets on Shoogly Pegs|url = https://ballotbox.scot/sp21-the-jaikets-on-shoogly-pegs/|website = Ballot Box Scotland|date = 19 April 2021|access-date = 12 July 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life== Beamish's partner is actor Michael Derrington.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claudiabeamish.com/?page_id=14|title=About Claudia|publisher=claudiabeamish.com|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref> They brought up their children in [[Pettinain]], [[South Lanarkshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/lanark-and-carluke-news/2008/05/09/clydesdale-teacher-hopes-to-chalk-up-win-over-tories-at-general-election-51525-20882922|title=Clydesdale Teacher hopes to chalk up win over Tories at general election|publisher=Hamilton Advertiser|date=9 May 2008|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref> While an MSP, she rented a flat in [[Shandon, Edinburgh]] which is owned by former Education minister [[Peter Peacock]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14791150.Labour_MSP_charges_taxpayer___57_000_for_living_in_former_Education_Minister_s_flat/ |title=Labour MSP charges taxpayer £57,000 for living in former Education Minister's flat |first=Paul |last=Hutcheon |work=[[Sunday Herald]] |date=9 October 2016 |accessdate=9 October 2016}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Twitter}} *{{SP-MSP}}

{{Former Labour MSPs|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beamish, Claudia}} [[Category:1952 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Daughters of life peers]] [[Category:Scottish schoolteachers]] [[Category:Labour Co-operative MSPs]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021]] [[Category:Female members of the Scottish Parliament]]